What is the Carr Green & Crowtrees Community Action Group?

 We are simply a group of local people that exists to give everyone a stronger voice in what goes on in our area, to protect and improve our area, and to promote and improve community spirit. The area of Rastrick we cover is loosely defined as either side of the A643 Brighouse/Rochdale road – Crowtrees Lane/New Hey Road, from the top of town up to the Kirklees & Calderdale boundaries. However, this is only a rough guide, as we also wish to include anyone with an interests in our area e.g. school parents, business owners, amenity users, people who work in the area etc.

Why have the Carr Green & Crowtrees Community Action Group?

 We originally came together in September 2006 against the development of houses on Carr Green Lane, opposite the Tennis Club. We formed a properly constituted body so that our voices would be officially recognised and heard. Since then, the group has voted to stay together as a community group with a slightly larger area than it began with, and with a much broader agenda. This was because it became apparent that there was often a need for a ‘collective voice and meeting point’ when issues arise, and when we need to liase with official bodies such as Calderdale Council. There are on-going issues such as crime & safety, and also individual issues that arise such as planning or public transport issues for example. Being an official group also means we can apply for grants and funding to improve the area. 

 What does the Carr Green & Crowtrees Community Action Group actually do?

Here are a some of the things we’ve achieved since we were formed :

  • More people in our community have been able to get to know each other.
  • We have improved liaison with local ward councillors, land owners, council representatives and our community policing team so that we can better work together to improve our area Our Crime & Safety representative Tom Caselton attends the Rastrick Police Forum meetings on the group’s behalf and is happy to pass on any issues you may have. Contact him on tom@tcaselton.fsworld.co.uk, or at meetings, or via this site using the contact page.
  • We have been instrumental in ensuring that two unpopular planning applications have been refused, and an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate upheld. 
  • We helped to get a local footpath reinstated.
  • We have secured grants to fund a community survey, tools for use by any of Rastrick's community groups, new benches and picnic tables for the recreation ground, the Party in the Park events of 2008 & 9 which we hope may continue as an annual event.
  • We have completed a survey of 1000 households in our area to give everyone the opportunity to input in to our Community Plan.
  • We have organised and completed successful 'clear-ups' of land at Jumble Dyke, and at the Carr Green Lane / Avenue snicket in conjunction with Calderdale Council and the Safer Communities Team. See diary dates for our next 'tidy-up'!
  • Our tidy-ups helped to inspire of a set of 'community tools' supplied by Calderdale Council, for use by all the Rastrick Community Groups during future projects.
  • We provide a means of support for any individuals with concerns or ideas that they can now bring to the whole community more easily.
  • We helped save Rastrick Health Centre from closure when the PCT wanted to move our surgery to Brighouse.
  • We have campaigned to restore a bus service following the withdrawal of the 380 service in January 2008. As a result, a Metro-led bid for a community transport operated shuttle-style service is being considered by the Department for Transport; the result of which should be known by October 2009.
  • We have lobbied Calderdale Council to create road safety measures on Crowtrees Lane in the form of 'electronic slow down signs'.

In the future we hope to be able to achieve much more, depending on what everyone tells us they want for the area.

 

Just some of the things we are discussing currently are a possible new community building based at Carr Green School, continued support of the 'village green' application, community notice boards, and increased facilities at the Carr Green Recreation Ground.

             

How can anyone get involved, or have their say?

 

Come along to our meetings - see diary section for details. Or contact us with your views. 





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